Knife sharpener recommendations

[LexG]

found this very helpful thanks guys. while i dont have knives of the quality mentioned here, we did get a nice Scanpan knife block set, whats your take on the sharpening tool included in the set? the long rod with grooves?

[CanuckSARTech]

I have no idea how to sharpen knives really good. I just hand all mine to a special ops buddy, who sharpens up my pocket, tactical, and hunting knives once a year about. Edges are always nice. If I do recall, I think he hand-hones them all.

[Colt45]

whats your take on the sharpening tool included in the set? the long rod with grooves?

That is a knife steel - it is not a sharpening tool (does not remove material). It is used to straighten the (slightly deformed) edge.